Adjustable basketball system and method of use thereof

ABSTRACT

An adjustable basketball system is provided. The system includes a sleeve positioned in a substantially vertical orientation with respect to a surface upon which the system rests. The system further includes a post configured to be inserted partially within the sleeve to functionally engage the sleeve. The system further includes a basketball backboard coupled to a portion of the post not inserted within the sleeve, the basketball backboard further including the basketball rim. The system also includes an actuator that is functionally coupled to the sleeve and the post, wherein actuation of the actuator axially transitions the post with respect to the sleeve to reposition the backboard with respect to the surface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of the earlier U.S. Utility patent application entitled “ADJUSTABLE BASKETBALL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF,” Ser. No. 15/627,978, filed Jun. 20, 2017, which is a continuation-in-part of the earlier U.S. Utility patent application entitled “ADJUSTABLE BASKETBALL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF,” Ser. No. 14/577,864, filed Dec. 19, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent application entitled “ADJUSTABLE BASKETBALL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF,” Ser. No. 61/922,506, filed Dec. 31, 2013, now pending, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

This disclosure relates generally to sports equipment and in particular to an adjustable basketball system and method of using the same.

State of the Art

Basketball systems are utilized to hold a basketball backboard and rim at a predetermined height to allow players to play the game of basketball. Some basketball systems may be set up on opposing sides of a basketball court to allow opposing teams or players to play full-court basketball. Some recreational, and even residential, basketball systems may be set up on any flat surface to allow basketball players to play a game of half-court basketball. Basketball systems may be fixed in the ground or may alternatively be portable.

Some basketball systems allow for the backboard and rim to be adjusted for height. A standard, regulation basketball backboard and rim system is set at 10 feet above the ground surface. However, some recreational and residential backboards may be adjustable in a step-wise manner so that the rim is positioned between 7 feet and 10 feet from the ground. These adjustable basketball backboard systems appeal to recreational players, players of relatively average size, players with limited vertical leap, or young basketball players, many of whom wish to execute shots and slam dunks on the lower rim like they see from professional basketball players on a regulation rim.

However, these adjustable basketball systems can pose problems. They can be cumbersome to operate, in that they may require a certain amount of strength to adjust the backboard and rim. These systems may also become inoperative if the specific tool needed to perform the desired adjustment is lost or broken. These systems can be impossible to operate for those that do not have the requisite strength or cannot reach the mechanism to adjust the system, such as children or disabled persons, such as wheelchair basketball players. These systems can bend and break over time due to exposure and use.

In addition, conventional adjustable basketball systems typically have height adjustments that range from 7- to 10-feet in predetermined increments of six inches. As a result, these predetermined height increments limit the basketball system to a certain number of preset height positions during play. These preset positions confine, or otherwise restrict, the playing height of the system and/or the resulting vertical jump of the player to these preset positions. This limits children and other athlete's development from being able to set the basketball system exactly to their athletic physical abilities. In addition, it limits athletes recovering from injury experience related abilities to achieve complex physical acts related to knowing precisely to what speed and height they can push their athletic abilities in order to grade the activity/recovery of their athletic skills. This limits injured recreational athletes, professional athletes as a group and high-level amateur athlete's recovery time by restricting physical-cognitive proficiency to the predetermined heights.

Furthermore, although video recording devices can be attached to adjustable basketball system backboards for video playback they are limited to the predetermined height positions. This limits athletes recovering from injury experience related abilities to process complex dynamic visual scenes in order to grade the activity of their athletic skills, such as, vertical jump. This limits injured recreational athletes, professional athletes as a group and high-level amateur athlete's recovery time by restricting perceptual-cognitive expertise when reviewing recorded training sessions.

In view of the foregoing, there is thus a need in the industry for an improved adjustable basketball system that addresses the concerns and difficulties described above.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to sports equipment and in particular to an adjustable basketball system and method of using the same.

An aspect of the present disclosure includes a basketball system comprising a sleeve, a post configured to be inserted partially within the sleeve to functionally engage the sleeve, a basketball backboard coupled to a portion of the post not inserted within the sleeve, and an actuator functionally coupled to the sleeve and the post, wherein actuation of the actuator axially transitions the post with respect to the sleeve to reposition the backboard.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes the basketball system transitioning between an operational position and a stored position.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes the basketball system being electrically operated via a control and a control unit.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a method of adjusting a basketball system, the method comprising providing a sleeve secured relative to a surface upon which the system rests, functionally engaging a portion of a post within the sleeve, coupling a basketball backboard to a portion of the post outside the sleeve, and axially transitioning the post with respect to the sleeve by a linear actuator coupled to each of the post and the sleeve to reposition the backboard.

The foregoing and other features, advantages, and construction of the present disclosure will be more readily apparent and fully appreciated from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an adjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of an adjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of an adjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of an adjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of an embodiment of a sleeve and base of an adjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a partial section view of an embodiment of a sleeve and base of an adjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7A is a section view of an embodiment of a sleeve and a post of an adjustable basketball system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7B is a zoomed in view of a portion of the section view of the sleeve and the post of the adjustable basketball system depicted in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7C is a zoomed in cross-section view of a portion of the sleeve and the post of the adjustable basketball system depicted in FIG. 7A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A detailed description of the hereinafter described embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures listed above. Although certain embodiments are shown and described in detail, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the present disclosure will in no way be limited to the number of constituting components, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc., and are disclosed simply as an example of embodiments of the present disclosure.

As a preface to the detailed description, it should be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1-7C depict an embodiment of an adjustable basketball system 10. Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise various structural and functional components that complement one another to provide the unique functionality and performance of the system 10, the structure and function of which will be described in greater detail herein. Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise, among other components, a sleeve 20, a post 30, an actuator 40, and a backboard assembly 50.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise a sleeve 20. The sleeve 20 may comprise a first end 22 and a second end 24. The sleeve 20 may comprise a through bore 25 running from the first end 22 to the second end 24. The sleeve 20 may be rectilinear in its cross-sectional shape, so as to form a square tube. The through bore 25 may have an interior surface 26. The sleeve 20 may comprise a connection member 28 coupled to the second end 24 of the sleeve 20. The connection member 28 may be configured to have coupled thereto and rigidly support the actuator 40. The sleeve 20 and the connection member 28 may be comprised of one or more metals or alloys, such as zinc, magnesium, titanium, copper, iron, steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel, aluminum, any combination thereof, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, copper alloy, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise a post 30. The post 30 may comprise a first end 32 and a second end 34. The post 30 may be rectilinear in its cross-sectional shape, so as to form a square tube member. The post 30 may be a hollow tube member having a through bore 35 therein. The post 30 may have a cross-sectional shape that communicates with the cross-sectional shape of the through bore 25 of the sleeve 20. The post 30 may be configured to be inserted within the through bore 25, such that at least a portion of the post 30 is encased by the sleeve 20. Indeed, the post 30 may have an exterior surface 36 that may be configured to functionally communicate with the interior surface 26 of the through bore 25 of the sleeve 20. Also, the post 30 may comprise a connection member 38 that may be coupled to the post 30. The connection member 38 may be configured to be able to couple to the post 30 and yet permit the second end 34 of the post 30 having the connection member 38 coupled thereto to be inserted within the through bore 25 of the sleeve 20. The connection member 38 may be configured to have coupled thereto and rigidly support the actuator 40 extending within the through bore 35 and coupling to the connection member 38. The post 30 may further comprise a cap 51 positioned on the first end 32. The post 30 and the connection member 38 may be comprised of one or more metals or alloys, such as zinc, magnesium, titanium, copper, iron, steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel, aluminum, any combination thereof, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, copper alloy, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the post 30 and the sleeve 20 being configured to structurally engage and functionally communicate with one another to permit the post 30 to axially advance in and out of the sleeve 20 or to at least axially transition within the sleeve 20 with respect to the sleeve 20. The sleeve 20 may be configured to support, embrace, retain, hold, or otherwise secure the portion of the post 30 that has been inserted therein so as to hold the entire post 30 in a position that is substantially axially aligned with the axis of the sleeve 20. Thus, if the sleeve 20 is positioned in a substantially vertical and upright position, then the sleeve 20 may be configured to likewise hold and secure the post 30 in a substantially upright and rigid position, such that the post 30 is prohibited from pivoting or tilting with respect to or dislodging from the sleeve 20, without the application of undue force. Further, the sleeve 20 and the post 30 may be configured to prohibit the post 30 to rotate or spin within the sleeve 20. The rectilinear cross-section of the sleeve 20 and the post 30 sliding within the sleeve 20 operate to prohibit the post 30 from rotating or spinning within the sleeve 20. The engagement of the sleeve 20 and the post 30 may be a friction fit, but the friction fit may be forgiving enough to permit the post 30 to axially transition in and out of the sleeve 20 with the application of predetermined force.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise an actuator 40. The actuator 40 may be any device capable of moving or controlling the movement of the post 30 with respect to the sleeve 20. The actuator 40 may be operated by a source of energy, such as electrical current from a DC and/or an AC power source, hydraulic fluid pressure, pneumatic pressure, or other like energy source. The actuator 40 may be configured to receive the energy and convert the energy into mechanical motion. Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the actuator 40 being a linear actuator, powered by electric current, having a stroke length and speed suitable to transition the post 30 with respect to the sleeve 20 a predetermined distance within a predetermined time frame. The electric current may be provided by a battery, a rechargeable battery, solar panels, a generator, electrolytic cells, an utility AC power outlet, or any combination thereof.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the actuator 40 having opposing ends, a first end 42 on actuator rod 41 and a second end 44 on actuator cylinder 43. The first end 42 may be releasably coupled to the connection member 38 of the post 30. The first end 42 may alternatively be fixedly coupled to the connection member 38 of the post 30. Further in the alternative, the first end 42 may be coupled to a bracket, brace, strut, support, or other coupling member that is positioned on and coupled to the connection member 38, such that the first end 42 may be coupled to the connection member 38 via the bracket, brace, strut, support, or other coupling member. The second end 44 may be releasably coupled to the connection member 28 of the sleeve 20. The second end 44 may alternatively be fixedly coupled to the connection member 28 of the sleeve 20. Further in the alternative, the second end 44 may be coupled to a bracket, brace, strut, support, or other coupling member that is positioned on and coupled to the connection member 28, such that the second end 44 may be coupled to the connection member 28 via the bracket, brace, strut, support, or other coupling member. With the first end 42 of the actuator 40 being coupled to the connection member 38 and the second end 44 of the actuator 40 being coupled to the connection member 28, upon activation of the actuator 40 the actuator 40 exerts force on each of the connection members 38 and 28. Due to the fact that the connection member 28 is coupled to the sleeve 20, which does not move, the force exerted by the actuator pushes on the connection member 38 to axially transition the post 30 with respect to the sleeve 20. In other words, upon activation of the actuator 40, the actuator 40 functions to push against the connection members 28 and 38 to distance the connection members 28 and 38 from one another. However, because the connection member 28 does not move due to its relative position with the sleeve 20, the operation of the actuator 40 functions to displace the connection member 38 within the through bore 25 of the sleeve 20, which displacement axially transitions the post 30 within the through bore 25 along the length of the axis of the sleeve 20. In this way, the actuator 40 may be configured to raise and lower the post 30 in and out of the sleeve 20. Additionally, the system 10 a bushing 49 coupled to first end 22 of sleeve 20. The bushing 49 may have an inner dimension of sides that engage and outer surface of post 30.

Additionally, each side of the sleeve 20 may include four spacers 80 each coupled to an inner surface of the sleeve 20, wherein each spacer extends from a top edge of the sleeve a predetermined distance down the sleeve. In some embodiments, each spacer 80 has a length of at least 18 inches. The spacers 80 are coupled to the inner surfaces of the sleeve 20 in fixed locations. The post 30 is slideably inserted into the sleeve 20, wherein the spacer 80 is located between the post 30 and the sleeve 20. The spacer engages the post 30 on outer surfaces of the post 30. The length of the spacers 80 operate to keep the axis of the post 30 and the axis of the sleeve 20 aligned. With the axis of sleeve 20 aligned with the axis of the post 30, the post 30 can slide out of and into the sleeve 20. The spacers 80 may be formed a polymer, wherein in some embodiments the spacers 80 are formed of Delrin®. The spacers 80 reduce friction between the sleeve 20 and the post 30. This further prevents binding of the components and damage to the actuator 40. The four spacers 80 may be positioned on the sleeve 20 such that they engage each spacer 80 engages two other spacers 80 along the entire length of the spacers 80 to form an inner perimeter smaller than the inner perimeter of the sleeve 20. The entire length of each spacer 80 engages only one exterior surface of the post 30 resulting in all for exterior surfaces of the post engaging the spacers 80 simultaneously to maintain the axis of the post aligned with the axis of the sleeve 20 at all times during operation or non-operation of the actuator.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the actuator 40 being configured to be housed within the sleeve 20 so as to be out of sight. The actuator 40 may be positioned within the through bore 25 of the sleeve 20 and at a position between the connection member 28 and the post 30. In particular, the actuator 40 may be configured within the through bore 25 of the sleeve 20 and at a position between the connection member 28 and the connection member 38 of the post 30.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the actuator 40 being configured to have a stroke length that is sufficient enough to transition the post 30 a desired displacement distance within the sleeve 20, but not sufficient enough to eject the post 30 completely out of the sleeve 20. The desired displacement distance may be a distance between 1 and 4 feet in certain embodiments. The desired displacement distance may be 2 to 3 feet in certain embodiments. The desired displacement distance may be 3 feet in certain embodiments. The actuator 40 may be configured to be operated and/or controlled via a control. The control may be a rocker switch box with various operational controls thereon. For example, the control may be configured to have an on/off switch, an up or down switch, and/or a standby mode. The control may be configured to have preprogrammed height adjustments that correspond to a predetermined desired displacement distance. The control may be configured to be programmable to set one or more of the predetermined desired displacement distances to a specific switch on the control. The control may be configured to operate the actuator 40 to transition the actuator 40 in predetermined step-wise displacements. The control may be configured to transition the actuator 40 to any displacement distance within the stroke length of the actuator 40. Once transitioned to the desired distance, the actuator 40 may be configured to hold or otherwise maintain the displacement distance until the control is again operated. In this way, the operator of the system 10 may set the desired height of the basketball backboard system 10 by operation of the control that directs the function of the actuator 40. The post 30 may be further configured with a height indicator that visibly displays to the user the height of the rim 56 at any given displacement distance.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise a backboard assembly 50. The assembly 50 may further comprise an arm 52, a backboard 54 and a rim 56. The arm 52 may be configured to be releasably coupled to a portion of the post 30 that is not functionally engaged by the sleeve 20. The arm 52 may be configured to have coupled thereto the backboard 54. The backboard 54 may have coupled thereto the rim 56.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the system 10 being fixed relative to the ground by use of a base 70. The base 70 may be configured to be anchored in the ground and/or anchored in concrete.

Embodiments of the system 10 may comprise the repositioning of the backboard assembly 50 continuously at any point along a range between the maximum and minimum height achievable by the system 10, per the configuration of the sleeve 20, the post, and the actuator 40, as described above.

A method of operating the system 10 may comprise coupling a sleeve adjacent a surface used as a basketball court, functionally engaging a portion of a post within the sleeve, coupling a basketball backboard to a portion of the post outside the sleeve, and axially transitioning the post with respect to the sleeve by a linear actuator coupled to each of the post and the sleeve to reposition the backboard.

The method may further comprise providing electric power to the system, activating the actuator via a control, operating a camera, operating speakers to play music, pivoting the basketball backboard between an operational position and a stored position, and transporting the system from one location to another.

The components defining the above-described system 10 may be formed of any of many different types of materials or combinations thereof that can readily be formed into shaped objects provided that the components selected are consistent with the intended operation of a basketball system of the type disclosed herein. For example, and not limited thereto, the components may be formed of: rubbers (synthetic and/or natural) and/or other like materials; glasses (such as fiberglass) carbon-fiber, aramid-fiber, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; polymers such as thermoplastics (such as ABS, Fluoropolymers, Polyacetal, Polyamide; Polycarbonate, Polyethylene, Polysulfone, and/or the like), thermosets (such as Epoxy, Phenolic Resin, Polyimide, Polyurethane, Silicone, and/or the like), any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; composites and/or other like materials; metals, such as zinc, magnesium, titanium, copper, iron, steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel, aluminum, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; alloys, such as aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, copper alloy, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; any other suitable material; and/or any combination thereof.

Furthermore, the components defining the above-described system 10 may be purchased pre-manufactured or manufactured separately and then assembled together. However, any or all of the components may be manufactured simultaneously and integrally joined with one another. Manufacture of these components separately or simultaneously may involve extrusion, pultrusion, vacuum forming, injection molding, blow molding, resin transfer molding, casting, forging, cold rolling, milling, drilling, reaming, turning, grinding, stamping, cutting, bending, welding, soldering, hardening, riveting, punching, plating, and/or the like. If any of the components are manufactured separately, they may then be coupled with one another in any manner, such as with adhesive, a weld, a fastener (e.g. a bolt, a nut, a screw, a nail, a rivet, a pin, and/or the like), wiring, any combination thereof, and/or the like for example, depending on, among other considerations, the particular material forming the components. Other possible steps might include sand blasting, polishing, powder coating, zinc plating, anodizing, hard anodizing, and/or painting the components for example.

While this disclosure has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure as set forth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, as required by the following claims. The claims provide the scope of the coverage of the present disclosure and should not be limited to the specific examples provided herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A basketball system comprising: a rectilinear sleeve with a through bore having first end and a second end a rectilinear cross-section and a first end and a second end; a rectilinear post with a through bore having a first end and a second end, the post configured to be inserted partially within the sleeve and to extend in and out of the sleeve; four spacers, each spacer coupled directly to an inner surface of the sleeve, wherein each spacer extends from a top edge of the sleeve at least eighteen inches down the sleeve, and the spacers located between the post and the sleeve, and wherein the spacers engage the post on all four sides simultaneously on outer surfaces of the post to keep the axis of the post and the axis of the sleeve aligned; a basketball backboard assembly coupled to a first end of the post; and an electric linear actuator comprising an actuator rod and an actuator cylinder, the electric linear actuator located within the sleeve and the actuator cylinder is coupled directly to the sleeve with a connection member and the actuator rod is coupled directly to the post with a connection member, wherein actuation of the electric linear actuator axially transitions the post in and out of the sleeve to reposition a height of the backboard assembly, and wherein the spacers cooperate with each other to maintain the post and the sleeve in a coaxial relationship and to prevent rotation of the post as the post is raised and lowered in and out of sleeve during operation of the electric linear actuator.
 2. The system of claim 1, comprising a control electrically coupled between the actuator and a power source, wherein the control comprises a switch, wherein the actuator operates in response to operation of the switch.
 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control for operating the actuator.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a removable memory coupled to the input/output port for storing photos and video captured by the camera.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the control comprises a power source.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the power source is one of AC power, a battery, a solar panel or combinations thereof.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the backboard assembly comprises a backboard and a rim.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the four spacers are positioned on the sleeve such that each spacer engages two other spacers along the entire length of the spacer to form an inner perimeter smaller than the inner perimeter of the sleeve.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein an entire length of each spacer engages only one exterior surface of the post. 